Addvantage 2015 April

Inside this issue USPTA Conferences Provide Test Ground for Prince – 46 2XU Aids Injury Prevention – 48 Ten Commandments of Coaching – 56 Departments: 42 CEO’s Message 44 Vice President’s Message 46 Endorsee News 48 USPTA Benefits 49 Master Pro Corner 52 Staff Spotlight 54 USPTA News 56 Inside Coaching 58 Career Development 60 Member News Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com On the cover: Show enthusiasm on court! If you portray energy, your players will in turn be energetic. See Page 56 for the Ten Commandments of Coaching.

CEO’s Message

A Blur of Activity

by John Embree

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he first quarter of every year is an exciting time for our association and for the industry in general. These three months are a time when plans are set in motion for the year, division conferences are conducted, endorsees begin to activate their affiliation with our members, and industry meetings are held. Coming out of our January Board meeting, there are a variety of new initiatives that will be announced as the year progresses. I am stoked about what 2015 will bring!

As the dues cycle came to a close in the office at the end of January, the volume of phone calls and emails inquiring about payments, equipment contracts with Prince, insurance requests, etc., was striking. We always do our best to handle everyone as quickly and efficiently as possible, but inevitably, we fall short of the expectations that our members have to timely responsiveness. We will evaluate what worked and what didn’t and implement improvements next time around.

Twelve of our 17 divisions hold their respective division conferences during an eight-week time period. Many are held on the same weekends so we have divided the responsibilities to ensure that each has a Board representative in attendance. It is vital that Board members have visibility with our membership in order to share the progress that is being made nationally, while also keeping a pulse on division activity and concerns that exist in the field. I personally was able to attend at least four division conferences during the year, three of which took place between Jan. 19 and March 8.

By almost all accounts, participa-

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tion at these division conferences is on the rise compared to previous years, which is good news. We are seeing both new members and veteran members who have either never attended a division conference or who have not been involved in the recent past. Whether that is a result of the continuing education requirement or a genuine thirst for knowledge and a desire to improve, it is difficult to say. But, our education department is slammed trying to process all of the scanned QR codes and education credits that have been streaming in. With 21 months to go for the 6-credit requirement to be fulfilled, it is essential that every single member understand the value of continuing education and take action to satisfy the stipulation.

Core Pillar No. 4 in our Strategic Plan deals with strong alignment with allied organizations. As a testament to the importance of this initiative, Tom McGraw was invited to attend the PTR International Symposium at a frigid Hilton Head in mid-February. Chuck Gill, McGraw and I were very visible during the CMAA World Conference in San Antonio in March, and the following week, I was in the desert for a TIA Board meeting, the TIA Tennis Owners and Managers Summit in conjunction with the BNP Paribas event at the In­ ardens. dian Wells Tennis G By the time you read this, I also will have attended a three-day Junior Competition Summit in Orlando hosted by the USTA before heading to Big Rapids, Mich., to attend the Ferris State spring event that brings industry leaders together to help educate the PTM students on what is going on in the industry. On top of all of that, we are gearing

up for the semi-annual meeting of the Executive Committee here in Houston in mid-April along with a Board meeting. Our division Executive Administrators and Executive Directors will also be in for a day of training prior to the commencement of two days of discussion with our association leadership. These three days of meetings come right on the heels of the USTA Annual Meeting in Florida. So, the first three weeks of April are just as busy, to say the least.

Finally, it is not too early to begin the preparations for the USPTA World Conference in New Orleans, Sept.

21-25. We are back to our traditional dates in mid-September and our usual format of four days of education, socializing, networking and celebrating all that New Orleans has to offer. Our staff is already vetting plans and programs that indicate that this World Conference will indeed be very special.

If you have never been to the Crescent City, what better time to do so? And, you get continuing education points on top of it!

My hope is that we all can take a deep breath in late April and reflect on the whirlwind that is the first interim of the year. However, we cannot rest on our laurels for very long, knowing what lies in the months ahead. The USPTA has become a dynamic, vibrant association with unlimited potential.

The challenge is always to harness that upside and to engage each and every member with an understanding of what we are trying to accomplish. The blur of activity is not going to stop. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions and thanks for all that you do to support our association. h

Vice President’s Message

The Time is Now

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by Alan Cutler

We are still giving members continus we all know, all USPTA certraining soon to include what has been ing education credits for any professiontified members (excluding the on-court training workshop, which al growth activities or events that they international members and is the second piece of Coach Youth Tennis. The online version is in addition attend. All you have to do is submit the those over 65 years of age) date, duration and some proof of attento the live workshops that will be given need to earn 6 educational credits throughout the year. New members will dance for the activity or event. You can (12 hours) over a three-year period. be asked to attend a live workshop unsubmit an email, letter, receipt or certifiWell, the first year is gone and many of less there is not one cate to verify your attendance. USPTA you still have not Time is ticking; take advantage scheduled in their typically assigns one credit for every two started. We hear area. Existing memhours of education or training. Divisions all kinds of reasons of the free education with USPTA, including, “I don’t through our allied groups’ webinars, bers are encouraged are having their conventions as well as or at coachyouthtennis.com to stand-alone education. The 2015 USPTA to take the online want to take the National Education Day is set for Sattime off” or “It’s too complete your continuing education version to enhance urday, Nov. 14. There will be education their knowledge of expensive to travel.” requirement. activities and events regionally and all 10 and Under TenThere is good news nis and earn some much-needed conover the country. If you are interested in – USPTA is making continuing education free and convenient. tinuing education credits. The online hosting and/or giving a seminar, please The USPTA Education Commitversion should be ready in the spring. contact your division leaders. tee, under the direction of the Board of David Benzel of Growing Champions If you are interested in giving a webinar, please contact me at Directors, has concentrated on making for Life has been offering regular webinars that our members are encouraged ­playtennisforlife.info@yahoo.com with webinars happen more often. Last year to view. If you are interested in signing a proposal. We are looking for educawe hosted seven webinars, and this year tion-based PowerPoint presentations we hope to have 12. If you listen to every up for David’s webinars, they will be promoted in our e-news with a link to with about 40 slides. We are also lookone of these webinars, you will have ing for new speakers. the sign-up page. His webinars tend to your education requirement complete Time is ticking; take advantage be in the evening. without ever leaving your home or ofof the free education with USPTA, fice. We cannot make this more conve Tennis Industry Association has through our allied groups’ webinars, or nient. One hour of your time, and if you periodic webinars available for free. We at coachyouthtennis.com to complete cannot make the time that the webinar will list those in the e-news also when is scheduled, many of them are being re- we have the information. These are anyour continuing education requirement. other way to get education credits. corded and you can listen to them when Let's get started now! h you have time. By the way, did I mention these are free of charge? What a great benefit from USPTA! Some of the webinar subjects we have coming up include equipment, facility management, high performance, stroke production, diversity, and finance, just to name a few. These webinars are being given by world-class speakers including Bruce Levine, Feisal Hassan, Ramona Husaru and Chuck Gill. Check the education calendar at uspta.com/education and look out for the USPTA e-news for dates.

Coach Youth Tennis is also available to you. Currently, there are the six free online courses that will also take care of the education requirement once you complete the last course. You can do these courses 24 hours a day on demand at www.coachyouthtennis.com. They To see how many education credits you have, go to uspta.com/education and click on “View Education Report Card.” are going to expand their web-based

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Endorsee News

USPTA Conferences Provide Test Ground for Prince

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he USPTA division conference season proved to be the perfect testing ground for the new ­TeXtreme racquet collection from Prince. As the official racquet and ball supplier for the USPTA, Prince had representatives on-site not only to answer questions about products, but they also provided attendees with an opportunity to test drive the new racquets before they were available to the general public.

And the response was enthusiastic!

“The four TeXtreme frames will make it much easier for a player to choose the right fit," said one USPTA pro at the USPTA Texas conference.

“Even though I want to play with the Tour 95 or the Tour 100T, I will probably teach with the 107 because it is appropriate for almost any level.”

In addition to the selection of four frames, the unique look and feel of the new TeXtreme collection did not go unnoticed.

“These have a sleek and stealthy look. I’ve never seen another racquet that comes close, I really like them.”

– Northern California USPTA Pro “The TeXtreme Tour 100T is sweet, balance feels great and it’s incredibly stable … gives me plenty of power and I still feel great control!”

– Kansas USPTA Pro

Prince Brand Manager Craig Gansen shows the newest Prince TeXtreme racquet line at the USPTA Intermountain conference, Feb. 6-8, at Lifetime Fitness in Centennial, Colo.

“The hands-on support of the ­USPTA conferences by Prince are a small part of our commitment to strengthening and growing our partnership,” said Brad Wakely, Marketing Manager, Prince Global Sports.

“Establishing a true partnership with the USPTA pros will give Prince a solid grassroots platform to build on and we hope will help create consumer demand for our products.” h

“The hands-on support of the ­USPTA conferences

by Prince are a small part of our commitment to strengthening and growing our partnership.”

– Brad Wakely, Marketing Manager, Prince Global Sports

From left: Tyler Doty, USPTA, Taisuke Kikuchi, USPTA, and William McDonald test out the new Prince TeXtreme racquets at the USPTA Texas Annual Conference in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.

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THIS IS REAL TENNIS TECHNOLOGY

YOU CAN SEE AND FEEL. Introducing Prince®

KEY FEATURES: •

Built with TeXtreme, an advanced, super thin material that packs more carbon fibers per square inch

•

This proven technology is infused into the racquets throat and head, optimizing racquet dynamics

•

Tighter, 45-degree weave of the carbon material maximizes the stiffness-to-weight ratio

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Racquets.

USPTA Benefits

2XU Aids Injury Prevention

By Mark Schminke, USPTA

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t’s no surprise that compression gear is regarded as the go-to for athletes.

It seems like every clothing company makes it, and every box store seems to sell it. But with the over-abundance of options, one can get lost in appearance, while forgetting the true intended purpose of compression. Apparel company 2XU brings compression to a whole new level; one that most of us didn’t know existed.

In order to adequately review 2XU’s compression gear, I need to define what makes compression gear so beneficial.

Compression clothing has been proven to improve athlete performance before, during and after activity through improved circulation, muscle containment and reduced muscle vibration, all of which is dependent on the type, thickness and weave of the material. Just because a fabric is stretching and form fitting, doesn’t make power. Their Recovery line is a thicker it a good compression. 2XU’s fabric is what material, composed entirely of the 105 sets it leagues apart from other compression apparel brands. Their fabric, PWX, Denier PWX weight fabric, providing the stands for power, weight and flexibility. It’s maximum amount of blood circulation for a collection of three premium compresreduced muscle soreness post workout. sion fabrics, all woven These three with a superior medi- Compression clothing has been proven lines encompass to improve athlete performance before, cal grade circular the complete knit structure. This during and after activity through improved possibilities allows for 360-degree circulation, muscle containment and that compression provides. stretch, greater flex- reduced muscle vibration I tested a ibility, unsurpassed few pieces from 2XU’s Elite and Recovery power and increased durability.

2XU offers four lines of compreslines during one of the most tiring and sion gear: Standard, Elite, Recovery and work-intense two weeks of 2014. Not Thermal. For this review, we will save only was I teaching more than 40 hours a the Thermal line for another review. week, I was training for a tournament. My Both Standard and Elite are intended for morning started with three to four hours use during the workout, while Recovery of hitting, an hour lunch break, and then is intended for post workout. They are all seven to eight hours of teaching. Before extremely functional in all aspects, but wearing compression, my ability to teach each has its own specialty. in the afternoon was diminishing because The difference between the three lines of the morning hitting sessions. Each is the material thickness. The thicker the morning I wore 2XU’s Elite compression material, the more strength and support; shorts and Elite long sleeve compression the thinner the material, the more flexibiltop. I felt great after the hitting session. ity. 2XU’s Standard line uses a 70 Denier The shorts kept my quads and hamstrings PWX weight fabric through the entire well compressed for all of my clay court product, while their Elite line uses an extra sliding, while the compression top helped powerful 105 Denier PWX weight fabric in keep my body temperature up. After my specific places that require strength and lunch and cool down, the fatigue started

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to kick in. My upper body felt good, but my calves and forearms were completely dead. I felt as if I had no control over the two muscles. Before work, I put on 2XU’s compression socks and arm sleeves. Seconds after putting on both pieces, I felt an immediate relief. The increased blood circulation decreased the throbbing, and the compression created a sense of strength and composure. These two pieces made it possible to teach the rest of the day.

After dinner and a shower, I put on the Recovery tights. I slept in these every night, wore them around my house at all available moments, and if cold enough, wore them to work in the afternoons.

The 105 Denier PWX fabric created the most amazing compression, as if someone was permanently massaging your leg muscles. From then on, my main purpose of wearing compression was for postworkout recovery. By the end of the week my body was exhausted, so I gave myself a full two days of rest before competing in the tournament. After three days of matches, I lost in the finals, but greeting me when I walked through my front door were my Recovery pants.

I can’t say I wouldn’t have made it as far in the tournament without these compression pieces, but I can say that the training involved to make it to the finals would not have been possible without all five pieces. My body could not endure the stress placed upon it through hitting sessions and lessons without the aid of 2XU’s compression gear. The confinement of muscles let me perform above and beyond my capabilities. The circulation of blood helped my muscles recover over night from a day’s beating.

I can honestly say that I will never train without the aid of 2XU’s gear. They’re the best in the industry, and when it comes to injury prevention for my profession, I would never wear anything else. h Mark Schminke is a USPTA Elite Professional and a graduate from the University of Virginia. He has more than 10 years of teaching experience, served as the USPTA South Carolina President, and is the owner of the Schminke Tennis Academy.

Master Pro Corner

My Search for “Mission Accomplished”

By Bob Love, USPTA Master Professional “

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here is no such thing as teaching called backward chaining. Instead of go– only learning! Your mission ing A-B-C, we taught going C-A-swing to is to create a positive learning C. It allowed me to take total beginners environment for your students.” and have them produce repetitive strokes with the ball going over the net every Those were the opening words of Dr. Eugene Smith, president of the National time in 10 minutes maximum.

Council of Teachers of Mathematics, to my math methods class at “Preparing and Presenting” Wayne State University, Detroit, in is a fabulous way to enrich the fall of 1967. They “hit” me like a your knowledge and share it. sledge hammer! That mission statement has stuck with me for 48 years as I still seek to create a positive learning environment. The journey has been long, challenging and continues today.

Because of my background in education and engineering, I resolved to use a step-by-step process for my professional growth.

Step 4: Target objective results. Positive learning comes from positive reinforcement, either internal or external.

Master Pro Guy Parks, Director of Tennis, Racquet Club of Columbus, and I designed objective skills tests for all levels of our junior instruction. Results were amazing as the children had the fulfillment of acquiring new skills.

We had four distinct lesson sequences for children 10 and under. The approach we used came from a powerful program of objectives-based learning.

Robert Mager wrote a series of six books that were the foundation for our curriculum development.

Step 1: Curriculum develop and lesson plans. In 1967, I resolved that I would never step on the court for a lesson without a clear-cut lesson plan that was part of a positive curriculum. I created handouts for my students so they could take home information and place it in a file for courtside use during matches.

Master Idea 5: “Use objectives-based testing for positive development.”

Master Idea 1: Preparation helps pros grow!

Step 2: Form-based learning. In 1972 I had the biggest “AHA!” moment of my entire tennis-teaching life. I was searching for a method that would allow me to introduce strokes “instantly” or at least extremely quickly. While observing a golfer with no tennis experience stroke the ball perfectly, I noticed that he finished every stroke with a vertical racquet. I tried that technique and found my strokes were going over the net with ease! I then used that as a learning method in some beginner clinics, and the results were truly amazing. I taught the stroke from finish to start to finish!

We would have the student learn the pose for the finish, take the racquet back, and “swing to the finish.” This method is

Master Idea 2: For competition, function precedes form. For skill acquisition (learning), form precedes function.

Master Idea 3: “Know that a ball goes over the net because is has to. If the path of a racquet is correct, the ball must go over the net.

Step 3: Speak the game. Dozens of pros have asked me. “How can I become a really good teacher?” My answer is simple, “Teach the game to other tennis educators.”

I was offered opportunities to speak to high school coaching groups and later at many USTA and USPTA conferences. “Preparing and Presenting” is a fabulous way to enrich your knowledge and share it. Once I had a good program, then I could add it to my “Presentation Menu” and work to create something else. My greatest personal environment for growth came in the “Prepare and Present” process. Start out with a 25-minute presentation with handouts for a local clinic and see how much fun it can be.

Master Idea 4: Prepare and present for professional growth.

Step 5: Learn! “A master teacher is a master learner.” With the resources we have today, especially from the USPTA, every pro and coach can acquire incredible information. Observe your students – not just watch them. Learn how to chart and provide competitive feedback to your players.

Master Idea 6: Competitive feedback is the true key to a successful coach-player relationship.

My journey will go on as long as I have eyes for observation and studying tennis resources. For me, tennis is truly the sport of a lifetime! h Bob Love has been a national clinician for the USTA and at USPTA conferences. He has made presentations in Spain and Egypt and has been a tennis teacher for 48 years, a 44-year member of the USPTA, and a 31-year member of the Southern Division. He can be reached at boblovetennis@windstream.net.

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Staff Spotlight

Randy Jenks – Manager of USPTAPlayer.com What do you do at USPTA? My job is to manage, support and promote the business of our members and divisions on USPTAPlayer.com, our club and community website content, and tennis program management platform.

to be late or not respond to someone. I try my best to respond to every email, text message and phone call. I also operate on Lombardi time, “15 minutes early is on time and 10 minutes early is 5 minutes late.”

What’s your education background?

I attended Coastal Carolina University and University of North Florida. I graduated from University of North Florida in ’94 with a bachelor’s degree and in ’96 with a master’s degree.

Where have you lived? I have lived in over a dozen different cities across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

What do you like best about your job? What I like best is becoming friends professionally and personally with people from all over the country and learning about the differences in our business from club to club and from one part of the country to another. I am always interested in how things can be nearly identical at clubs separated by thousands of miles and also so different.

I think it has made me stronger in my ability to manage a range of things, not just as it relates to club management.

Do you have a specific work ethic or personal philosophy that you live by? One is a short phrase that I have always used with my former club staffs

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What would people be surprised to know about you? Maybe that I worked for IBM for six years after college before coming back to tennis. Or that I have a career win over Vince Spadea – lol. (Hey Spadea, I ain’t afraida ya!)

Randy with his wife, Karen, and daughter, Charlotte. and that I remind myself of whenever it seems easier to take a shortcut. “Details Matter!” When shortcuts are taken or we think that some small detail could never matter, then it will most likely pop up and bite us. I believe it is better to spend double the amount of time on the small details and make sure they don’t cause a problem than to later spend half the amount of time cleaning up a mess that has made us look bad.

A couple other work ethics or philosophies I have are punctuality and responding to people.

There are many great things about the Internet age, but there are also some things that I find frustrating that the Internet has made so informal and insignificant. Today it seems almost common and acceptable

If you could go anywhere in the world or do anything, where/what would it be? It’s very hard to give only one answer.

I definitely hope to see many parts of the world and do many things. The first thing to come to mind at the moment, if I could do anything, is that I would like to drive in the Indy 500, Daytona 500 or Rolex 24.

I guess I have that male “go fast” gene.

What are your hobbies? My personal time is largely spent doing family things.

My wife, Karen, and I have a 9-year-old daughter, Charlotte. She is presently in softball season, so some evenings and weekends we try to get a little extra time in the batting cages. I am a huge fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles. I am also a car nut. I like looking at cars, talking about them, washing/detailing, working on them, and of course, driving!

What event in your life would you like to live over and why? The first thing to come to mind would be going to spring training at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Fla., with my parents and being lucky enough to get back into the player clubhouse area. I got every autograph from the roster of the 1980 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Pete Rose, etc. It doesn’t get any better than that for a kid. h

USPTA News

Surface Tournament Season Continues with USPTA Clay Court Championships

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he third tournament in the Mas- tennis members, but it is best known for ter’s Invitational Series takes hosting the Florida Open. The national place in April in Fort Myers, junior tournament began in 1990 by the Fla., at the USPTA Clay Court USTA to improve the competitiveness Championships. This four-day tournaof America’s young tennis player on ment takes place April 30-May 3 at the clay court surfaces. Former participants Landings Yacht, Golf & Tennis Club and have played professionally, including is open for registration to USPTA-cerAndy Roddick, M ­ onique Viele, Levar tified Professionals Harper Griffith, As a benefit to certified members, Carly Gullickson, through April 19. the surface championships provide Amer Delic, Goran Total prize money for the tour- an opportunity to play against other Dragicevic and Jesse USPTA Professionals, showcase nament is $10,000 Witten. The Florida skills, and win prize money. and will feature Open has received events in the followrecognition as the ing categories: men's and women's open most outstanding junior tournament in singles and doubles competition, men’s the USTA/Florida Section. and women’s 35 singles, men's and wom As a benefit to certified members, en's 45 singles and 45 doubles, men’s 55 the surface championships provide singles and doubles, men’s 65 singles and an opportunity to play against other doubles, and mixed open and 45 doubles.

USPTA Professionals, showcase skills, The Landings will host the Clay and win prize money. Members who Court Championships for the second play in the surface championships consecutive year, and the tournament have the opportunity to play their way is sponsored by Fort Myers Realty & into the USPTA Masters Invitational.

Property Management, LLC, USPTA The brand new event will be held at Florida Division and the Landings. the 2015 USPTA World Conference in The club is home to 13 lighted Har-Tru New Orleans. This tournament, which courts and boasts 500 active playing replaces the International Champion-

ships, gives USPTA-certified Professionals an added opportunity to showcase their skills and earn a portion of the $15,000 prize money, which is the largest amount awarded of all the USPTA tournaments.

Players receive points in both the main draw (if they win at least one match) and in consolation play (if it is offered). In consolation matches, a player or team advancing by default will receive credit for a win as long as that player or team does not default the next match. Doubles players will receive individual rankings. See the chart at uspta. com/tournaments for points earned.

Entry deadline for the 2015 USPTA Clay Court Championships is April 19.

Register online at www.usptaplayer. com/tournaments/799.

The USPTA Surface Championships are open to all USPTA-certified Professionals in good standing. To see the current rankings or learn more about ranking rules, sanctioned tournaments, and tournament regulations and requirements, go to uspta.com/ tournaments. All tournaments are run through usptaplayer.com. h

USPTA Clay Court Championships April 30-May 3, 2015 Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club Fort Myers, FL

USPTA Grass Court Championships May 29-31, 2015 Desert Highlands Scottsdale, AZ

USPTA Masters Invitational Sept. 21-23, 2015 Hilton New Orleans Riverside New Orleans, LA

USPTA Hard Court Championships Nov. 6-8, 2015 Hollytree Country Club Tyler, TX

Visit uspta.com/tournaments for more information.

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USPTA News

2015 USPTA Annual Awards Program Open for Nominations

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he USPTA is accepting nominations for its 2015 National Awards Program. As the leader in tennisteacher education and certification, each year the USPTA honors members who are committed to excellence as tennis teachers and as ambassadors using tennis to impact people and communities.

The USPTA is accepting nominations until the July 7 deadline. All Professional-level members are eligible.

Recipients will be recognized during the USPTA World Conference, Sept. 21-25, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans. The awards categories are: USPTA Stars are members who have dedicated many years to volunteering in grassroots tennis and through initiatives incorporating multicultural and other aspects, and who bring the sport and sportsmanship to the players they touch.

Their giving spirits have made them stars in their own communities.

The USPTA Industry Excellence Award is given to teaching professionals who take both an altruistic and entrepreneurial attitude toward their jobs. They use resources to build programs that bring tennis to more people. The recipient of this award will receive a $1,000 grant from the Tennis Industry Association and a Tennis Tutor ball machine from Sports Tutor for use in his or her grassroots programs.

The Alex Gordon Award for Professional of the Year recognizes a member who, over a career, has demonstrated exemplary achievement in seven areas, including: contributions to USPTA and USTA; as a teaching professional, player and coach; in education, research and publications; and with other organizations, achievements and contributions.

The only USPTA award available to nonmembers is for Manager of the Year, Large and Small Facility. Applicants/nominees must be the general manager (in function, if not in title) of a club or tennis facility.

College Coach of the Year and High School Coach of the Year award recipients are usually selected based on

Tom McGraw and Randy Mattingley, 2014 USPTA Professional of the Year

their results as team coaches, however, individual coaches may be considered.

The Tim Gullikson Touring Coach of the Year is selected on the basis of his or her work with a playing professional on the ATP World Tour or the WTA Tour and/or touring juniors.

The George Bacso Tester of the Year Award recognizes the USPTA tester who does the most to advance certification opportunities and the certification process.

The USPTA Lessons for Life™ Award recognizes members who have done the most to raise money for charities through tennis events. While the award spotlights individuals who have raised large amounts of money, it also honors those hosting the most creative, original or unique tennis event to raise money.

The USPTA Tennis Across ­America™ Award recognizes members who have done the most to get people to play tennis. It also has a multicultural segment that targets various communities and potential players who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play. While the award does look at individuals who have held the most free clinics with the greatest number of participants, it also looks at individuals hosting the most creative, original or unique free tennis event.

The USPTA Diversity Award

recognizes USPTA members who have demonstrated an outstanding ability to unite diverse populations within their community through tennis.

All “Player of the Year” awards will now be awarded to the No. 1-ranked player for each category (listed below) in singles and doubles, or combined when applicable, based on year-end USPTA rankings and not current ­USPTA rankings. There will no longer be an application process for Player of the Year Awards in every category. The categories for this award are: men’s open, women’s open, men’s 35-and-over, women’s 35-andover, men’s 45-and-over, women’s 45-and-over, and men’s 55-and-over and women’s 55-and-over.

Award nomination forms and guidelines are available at www.uspta.com/ awards, by calling 800-877-8248 or by sending a request to pr@uspta.org.

Since changes have been made to some individual categories, as well as Division of the Year criteria, please be sure to read the general rules and requirements for each award carefully. Also there are changes to the awards format and presentation at the conference, so please note that while all awards will be announced in writing at the conference, not all awards will be presented formally as they have in the past. h

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Inside Coaching

Ten Commandments of Coaching

By Jimmy Royalty, USPTA

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s a USPTA tennis professional it is very important to put your best foot forward. This will in turn grow your business and you as a professional. So many times I see common mistakes made by teaching pros that can directly affect the way they are viewed by the tennis community.

This is what sparked, “The Ten Commandments of Coaching.” The following is a list of 10 things that can make or break you and your tennis program.

Attire It is very important that you portray someone who looks the look. Having the proper clothing is a very important part in fulfilling your role as a tennis coach. Most teaching pros have some sort of sponsorship that may provide clothing. Maybe the facility where you work provides attire for you, including a name tag. A collared shirt is considered the most professional look. Whatever your situation may be, it is important that you stand by your sponsor or facility and promote them.

This does not only apply for your clothing, but shoes as well. Having “tennis” shoes is very important. Again, if you have a sponsor, you have an obligaYour goal as a USPTA Pro is not to be average, but set the bar for the rest of the tennis community.

tion to wear and sell these shoes to your clients. It is also part of the USPTA exam to have “clean tennis shoes.” I have seen teaching pros teach in running shoes, flip flops or sandals. Why would we ever stray from what we were taught?

By not adhering to these guidelines you are disrespecting those who are taking care of you and it is a reflection of how much you care. Most importantly you must always wear a smile.

Preparation Whether you are the director of tennis or an assistant part-time employee, it is important to be prepared. This means arriving at least 10 minutes before the scheduled lesson or clinic. Have your teaching supplies ready for action. Targets and teaching aids should be with the baskets.

Have hoppers or tubes ready for students to pick up the balls. The pro should also have his/her sunscreen on and be ready to go. Go to the restroom ahead of this time as well – the pro should never have to leave the court 10 minutes in to go to the restroom. When the session is scheduled to start, this is the “start time for the students,” not the pro.

As students are picking up balls, be

preparing for the next drill. Ask the leader what is coming next. Nothing is more annoying than sending students to a court for a drill and seeing them wait for the assistant to set up the court. This should be done prior to the students getting to the court, if there is time.

Targets Targets should be used on every court when applicable. This also may include ladders, jump ropes, balls, etc. I use these teaching tools as stations on the court. This prevents anyone from ever standing during a clinic session. You can have two to four players hitting and have two jumping rope. Then switch the students out as needed.

The most annoying thing about targets and teaching devices is when staff leaves them on the court after the session. This is extremely frustrating when you are teaching at an outdoor facility.

Weather can deteriorate these items costing your facility financially in replacing these items. This also applies to ball hoppers and ball tubes. Be sure you leave the court as you found the court.

Feeding It is important that you feed to the level of the student. For example, when working with beginners, don’t hit with massive amounts of spin. Maybe you should be hand tossing to certain students. Your job as a coach is to make your players feel successful and confident when leaving your program. The ball should be fed into the strike zone (waist high) of the player.

The higher the level, the tougher the feed can be. Make sure you are feeding with a continental grip as this will allow the ball to sit. Feeding with a semi-western or western grip will not allow for your players to succeed. Using these grips will also more than likely fatigue your arm and energy in the long run.

Verbal My philosophy is that it is better to over coach than under coach. The student

56 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

should be able to hear you at all times.

I can always tell when a coach is not ­involved and from my perspective, does not care. Being quiet or silent will send the wrong message to not only the student but also to everyone else that may be watching. This may be the parent of a junior player or a potential client who will now go elsewhere due to your perceived lack of energy. Communication is key in our sport. Lack of communication will send the wrong message.

Be Involved In clinic/camp situations, make sure you are always involved as a coach. When the group is picking up balls, this is the best time to coach.

Pulling a child over during the ball pick up can make all the difference to their experience. If you pull over just one student during each ball pick up, it will build each child’s confidence and your reputation as a coach.

When doing group demonstrations, be involved.

This may mean that you are physically in the demo hitting a certain shot, while the leader is explaining what he may or may not want. It may entail checking grips or technique as players demonstrate. The main focus is to be involved and be part of the group. When I see coaches standing around and not joining in the demonstrations, it sends a clear message. It is time for that pro to find something else to do instead of coaching tennis.

Safety The top priority in any teaching environment is that safety comes first. It is solely the coach’s job to ensure that all drills and court activity take place in a safe manner.

One of the biggest injuries in tennis is stepping on a ball. It sounds silly that an avoidable injury is at the top of the list. It is the teaching professional’s job to move any and all balls that might be in a player’s way. Never trust that the player sees a ball in his or her way. Many times they are focused on what we are communicating/teaching and not the area around them. When in doubt stop the drill and always err on the side of safety.

The other main safety issue is running all drills in a safe manner. Never

have a student pick up on the other side of the court while other players are hitting. All it takes is one ball to the eye and they can have an injury that will last a lifetime. Another common injury is being hit by another player’s racquet.

This may happen in a player’s followthrough, backswing or when they walk behind someone who is serving. It is always important to set up every drill so there is no potential for injury.

whatever is around. You want to look involved and this can’t happen if you are sitting. This includes when students are picking up tennis balls. Remember, this is one of the best times to coach.

During match play is when I see most coaches look for the most relaxing spot with shade. This is the best time to coach and build your reputation as a coach. If you have four courts of matches you are watching, simply coach the server in one full game; after that coach the other server the next game. Then Make sure you are always rotate to the next court. involved as a coach.

After you have coached every player do the same, but coach on the returner’s side.

When coaching this way, stand at the back fence, not at the net post. Standing at the net post signifies you are the umpire/referee. Be the coach!

Cell Phones It is important that a coach does not talk on a cell phone or text while on the court. Mobile phones should only be used in emergency situations. If there is a chance you might receive an emergency call, let the head coach or director know. If you do have to take a call, do it off the court and away from the client.

The message that you want to send your clients is that they are top priority when you are with them. I had a pro interviewing for a position and he asked to take a phone call while feeding the first drill. He was told politely that the interview was over. By sending texts during a practice or taking a call on the court, is says that you are not engaged.

The task at hand is the client.

Stand Strong One of my biggest pet peeves is when I see a coach sitting down during an oncourt session. A coach should never sit down on the court. This also includes leaning on fences, poles, awnings, or

Energy As a coach you must be exciting. Most people want to be around energetic people. If you portray energy, your players will in turn be energetic. If you look bored, it is no coincidence that your players will be bored. I was once told to coach as if I had just won the lottery. I live by that saying every day. By being upbeat, it keeps my players on their toes and prepared for a great session.

We have a saying that “the player is a reflection of the coach.” If your class is boring, then the retention of that group will be poor. Not only will retention be poor, but the number of new players in the group will be low. Lastly, as a coach you will get a reputation for being boring.

By following these simple “Ten Commandments” we can raise the bar of teaching pros not only in your facility but across the country. This list will take the expectation of your staff and program to another level. Your goal as a USPTA Pro is not to be average, but set the bar for the rest of the tennis ­community. h

Jimmy Royalty has worked in the tennis industry since the mid-1990s. Since 2010, Jimmy has been a group leader for tennis at the IMG Academy. He also traveled to many countries with IMG ITF players as well as performed clinics.

Jimmy is currently the Head of Adult Tennis at IMG.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 57

Career Development Exams, Upgrades & PTCA I April 11

Free Webinars

(5 credits)

(.5 APC credits)

May 14-16

Southern Division Convention

May 26-31

(4 credits for PTCA I segment) April 6-7

Conventions

San Francisco

April 23

Charlotte, N.C.

2 p.m. EST

Florida Division Convention

Naples, Fla.

USPTAPlayer.com Tournament Module

To register, contact Randy Jenks at randy.jenks@uspta.org.

Albuquerque, N.M. Aurora, Ill.

April 11-12

April 11-12 Atlanta April 11-12 April 12

Orlando, Fla. Hilton Head Island, S.C.

April 12-13

Upland, Calif.

April 16-17

Chatham, N.J.

April 20-21

Tyler, Texas

April 25

Des Moines, Iowa

April 26

San Diego

* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters.

Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade and PTCA I unless noted. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly.

Applicant: late cancellation fee – $95; failure to cancel – application fee is forfeited. Certified members: late cancellation fee – $25; failure to cancel – $25 plus the upgrade fee is forfeited. Registration for another exam will not be accepted until cancellation fees are paid.

Accredited Professional Coach Register your Accredited Professional Coach (APC) and specialty course credits earned with the USPTA SmartCode Education System. This uses your smartphone to instantly register your attendance to all seminars and specialty courses earning APC. To use the system at a seminar, general session or specialty course, you must scan two QR codes. One QR code is on your conference badge. The second QR code will be in your conference notebook and cannot be scanned until the end of the session or the beginning of the next session.

If you do not have a smartphone, you may use someone else’s. Forms are available upon request.

58 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

TAUT Workshops

May 9

(2 credits)

Freemont, Calif.

May 15

Charlotte, N.C.

May 16

Springfield, Mo.

May 18

Sioux Falls, S.D.

April 10

Atlanta, Ga.

May 28

Fargo, N.D.

April 25

Durham, N.C.

May 29

Bismarck, N.D.

April 26

Bentonville, Ark.

May 30

Denver

April 26

Madison, Wis.

June 6

Barrington, Ill.

May 9

Staunton, Va.

June 6

Edina, Minn.

May 9

Lewisburg, Pa.

June 6

Mayodan, N.C.

Go to www.coachyouthtennis.com for more workshops or to register.

Education requirements All USPTA-certified Professionals must earn 6 education credits in a threeyear period to remain current. Go to USPTA.com/Education for a partial list of eligible activities. Please send verification (email, letter, certificate, receipt, etc.) that shows you attended the event/activity and submit it along with the date and agenda to education@uspta.org to receive your credit. (International members, Recreational Coaches and those over the age of 65 are exempt.) ­Questions? Write to education@uspta.org or call 800-877-8248, ext. 147.

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Member News • USPTA Master Professional Fernando Velasco (pictured left), received the Capital Area Tennis Association 2014 Legend Award during the CATA Awards Night in Austin, Texas. It is only the second time that this award has been given to the individual who has contributed to Austin Tennis. Upon receiving the award, Fernando thanked his family for allowing him to continue with his passion of teaching, coaching, playing and promoting this great game to all players, and also to the members and staff of his club for supporting the programs and club goals.

• USPTA Professional Derek Sabedra was named the new tennis boys' head coach at St. Mary's Ryken High School in Maryland.

• Dan Beedle (pictured right) was recently awarded 2014 USTA Louisiana Program of the Year for the Cardio Tennis program at Querbes Tennis Center in Shreveport, La. He is a USPTA Elite Professional and an Authorized Cardio Tennis and TRX Cardio Tennis Provider.

Currently, he is the assistant head pro at Windyke Country Club in Memphis, Tenn.

He is also a member of the USPTA Southern U30 team.

• USPTA Elite Professional Bruce Angeli asks “Do you have students over 40 years old? Do they play tennis to get healthy and fit or do they get healthy and fit to play

tennis?” Either way, his new book “Late Call – Healthy Tennis for the Older Young at Heart” has the answers. Available on Amazon, this is an easy and fun read with great tips on health, nutrition, on and off-court strategies, tactics and insights for remaining free from injury and staying competitive. Have some fun! Learn more at www.LateCallTennis.com.

• The University of Central Florida recently hosted a job fair that saw more than 1,000 students and 50 sports vendors from all over the state.

USPTA Florida and USTA Florida teamed up in an effort to promote both organizations. “It’s so important to let our U30s know all the exciting career opportunities involved in tennis and how USPTA and USTA Florida can assist in that career path,” said Jason Gilbert, USPTA. “I can’t tell you how refreshing it is that both our organizations have such a strong partnership that we can work together to promote and grow our great sport.” Pictured: Jason Gilbert, USPTA, (right) and USPTA Florida U30 member Ryan B ­ auman at the UCF Job Fair.

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President First Vice President

Tom McGraw Chuck Gill

Vice Presidents

Past President CEO Legal Counsel

Alan Cutler Jack Michalko Dan Moster Diane Selke Gary Trost

TM

• On February 12th, a group of USPTA Pros including Anthony DeCecco and Matt Bonds (Tennis Addiction - Exton, Pa.) travelled with 18 high performance junior players to Orlando, Fla., to compete against players from the OTC (Orlando Tennis Center). Former USPTA Middle States Pro Tom Sweitzer is the Tennis Director at OTC and was the perfect host. The teams played 48 individual matches over 2 days and enjoyed the city and warm weather over the weekend. Plans to make this an annual trip are in the works!

ADDvantage magazine editorial offices USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite 202 Houston, TX 77042 Phone – 713-978-7782 / 800-USPTA-4U Fax – 713-358-7794 email – magazine@uspta.org

60 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Managing editor Circulation

Kimberly Forrester Kathy Buchanan

Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.

Tom Daglis John Embree George Parnell

The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the USPTA. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2015. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA.